globalofc
Newbie
Posts: 8
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« on: October 03, 2001, 04:57:47 pm » |
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It seems that most vendors calling our office these days are becoming extremely demanding and pushy. They insist on speaking with my boss when they can't even pronounce his name or they act as if they are old friends -- referring to him by his first name only. Many times I'm not even given a chance to provide them with information or direct them to the appropriate person, they quickly say they will call again and hang-up--leaving me to have to deal with them again the next day.
How do you deal with these types of calls? Do you have any suggestions on how to screen them?
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fireproof
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« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2001, 06:49:03 pm » |
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I know exactly what you mean - and the very worst of the bunch are cartridge salespeople! No matter how often I tell them we are happy with our supplier, that we only use name-brands, that we only buy locally, that their claims of "six times as many copies" from their cartridge are unverifiable, that their cartridge might be less expensive but their shipping costs are excessive (etc) they STILL KEEP CALLING!
Reminds me of the time our home phone rang at 3 o'clock in the morning - I let hubby answer 'cause he's really polite - and it was some guy selling FURNITURE; hubby says that when he informed him that we do not buy furniture over the phone at 3:00 am, the guy got all huffy and declared that he was "just trying to make a living" before he SLAMMED his phone down.
There's gotta be a better way to make a living than annoying people into trying your product.
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mlm668
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« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2001, 09:19:09 pm » |
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The best way I know to deal with them (when I can tell its a vendor or recognize the caller's voice) is that who they ask for isn't there. They usually hang right up and I can go about my day. Yes its a nuisance, but I'd rather lie than deal with the other garbage. Sometimes they want to know when the boss will be back so I'll tell a big whopper and say he's out of town for a month and offer to take a message. Gets them to leave me alone for a short while. My favorite is the idiot who uses a different accent each time he call. Funny, he's been calling for 3 years now and my boss is never there - go figure.
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kohinoor
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« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2001, 07:53:29 am » |
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I have that problem here too. But even more than with vendors I have problems with people who call for some survey. I always tell them bossie has no time for things like that but they just won't give up. And they are getting more and more. I have now started to tell them to go look at our website www.ourwonderfulcompany.de , they will find every available information there and if it's not there its secret and will not be told anyway. Sometimes this helps. I am in Germany and they even call from France or Ireland or other places all over Europe. Some of them I can verify by theri phone number if they tell the truth where they call from but quiet a few of them call with "hidden" numbers. so I can't even see who is calling or from where. I am not really rude but I admit I am a little less polite with those. If I don't have to hide anything why should I hide my phone number? Birgitta |
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laundryhater
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« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2001, 09:26:12 am » |
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When a vendor (and you definately know it's a vendor) calls and asks to speak to bossie, say "One moment please."
And then connect vendor to bossies voice mail.
Maybe then they will get the hint?
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chris68
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« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2001, 09:35:01 am » |
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No, because then they will fill up bossies voicemail and my boss hates that. Best to get rid of them then and there. Maybe ask them to send some info to bossies attention, if interested he'll contact you, otherwise, he's not interested. Or just say he is not interested at this time. After that, if they choose to be a pain and call back, then its fair game! I usually inform bossie that this person is being a pain and go from there.
Chris68
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mathwhizchick
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« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2001, 09:59:39 am » |
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fireproof, anyone calling my house at 3 in the morning doesn't get polite. They usually get DH, an ex-marine officer, and at 3 in the morning, it ain't polite....
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execsec
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« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2001, 10:08:46 am » |
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I had a vendor call me a @itch and hang up on me one time because I turned the tables on him. It was one of those callers that said you bought some stuff from us before and I want to update you on the price, etc. Well, I was in rare form that day and had a few minutes to spare so I started asking him to give me the invoice number, exact date, name of person that ordered, (could you spell that please?) etc. Could I get a copy of that faxed to me? I kept on and on and he had no answers; he got frustrated, called me a name and hung up. I don't think I ever heard from him again. I laughed like a crazy woman. PMS does have a positive side every now and then......
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radaro
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« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2001, 10:13:39 am » |
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I have call display at work. If I don't recognize the phone number, I don't pick up the call. If the call is important, the person will leave a message. Most sales people don't leave a message.
The only problem is that occassionally I get "Trunk ###" which is a long distance call. This could be one of our remote sales people or a long distance sales person. I have got "stung" on it a couple of times when I have been waiting for one of our people to call and have gotten a headhunter or vendor instead.
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elleny
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« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2001, 10:16:06 am » |
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With vedors and sales calls, I tell them that my boss is busy, but if they mail us the information or email me the info, I'll be happy to forward it to him. Then I say if he is interested he will call them back himself. As for surveys, I tell them that he does not do phone surveys, but if they will mail or email the survey I will forward it on to him to complete. Both types tend to accept this and in a few days I get the mail which I do forward on.
When the sales person calls back and says he hasn't received a call, then I reply that he must not think their product is useful at this time, but to check back in 6 months as our needs do change. This will usually pacify them for a while.
Ellen (one more day to go...) in TX
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globalofc
Newbie
Posts: 8
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« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2001, 11:12:12 am » |
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Thanks, everyone. Your comments and suggestions have been helpful. At least I'm not alone in my frustrations. I guess it's just a normal part of being an Admin!!!
Have a great day!
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mcbethers
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« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2001, 11:44:51 am » |
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I tend to get pushy back. I demand their name, their company's name, their address and phone number. Then I request that they remove me from their list as we do not buy stuff except from our approved vendor's list (the list in my head) and no, we are not currently planning to make any changes to the list. If they call back, I get snarky and demand the person's supervisor and raise a ruckus. Telemarketers and vendors quickly learn to avoid people who are a hassle at every turn.
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bohorquez
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« Reply #12 on: October 05, 2001, 09:15:30 am » |
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Birgitta,
Here's how I get out of survey: First I ask a little bit more information and when I find out it's a survey I say:
"Oh is the a survey or some type of research?"
"Yes"
"I'm sorry but it's against company policy to participate in any research or survey of any kind"
And that's it! They don't call back. You have be really innocent on the phone, you know play it dumb I guess
Bridget
p.s. I love your name!!
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